Monica Lewinsky to Speak as Part of Westport Arts Center’s MORE Than Words Community Programming

The Westport Arts Center announces a special not-to-be-missed event as part of its MORE Than Words exhibition programming.

Monica Lewinsky to speak on Bullying, Cyberbullying, Resilience and Reclaiming Your Narrative on Thursday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Westport Arts Center in Westport, CT.

Monica Lewinsky is a social activist, public speaker, Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair and Ambassador to The Diana Award’s Anti-Bullying Programme and BystanderRevolution.com.

Monica brings her own unique experience and observations to what is called our ‘culture of humiliation.’ Today, too many people – notably the young and the vulnerable – are suffering from the effects of public shaming. This is particularly true online where cyber-bullies spew hateful comments, degrading our public discourse. Everyone and anyone can become a target on the digital playground.

In her 2015 TED Talk, “The Price of Shame,” she described what this experience was like when she became the first person to lose a reputation on a global scale instantaneously via the Internet. And she explores the means by which we can combat this epidemic of public shaming because, as she says, “Public humiliation as a blood sport has to stop.” To date, her talk has received nearly 9 million views.

On a personal note, Monica is passionate about art – particularly that of contemporary artist Ed Ruscha – game for traveling to new places, loves to sing show tunes, frequents flea markets and doesn’t cook.

Monica’s talk amplifies the discussion on the themes underlying the MORE Than Words exhibition, currently on display at the Arts Center through October 29. The exhibition examines the topic of bullying within a broad cultural context that considers how perceived imbalances of social, physical, or political power can be abused to marginalize others. MORE Than Words includes artistic expressions of gender, racial, religious, geo-political, and age inequality, as well as works that serve to demonstrate the impact of bullying and cyberbullying. Assembled together for the first time, this selection of thought-provoking art aims to provide a platform to inspire dialogue and change.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Westport Arts Center at 203/222-7070 or visit www.westportartscenter.org. This event is closed to members of the press.

About the MORE Than Words exhibition

The range of work in the exhibition spans decades, even centuries, reflecting historical examples and precedent for art utilized as a form of social activism. Addressing the inherent imbalances, appropriation, and abuse of power associated with bullying, the exhibition covers the topics of racism in the early 20th century, the rise of gender equality and LGBTQ issues of the mid-century, to the current state of race relations and cyberbullying in the present day.

The MORE Than Words concept originated among members of the Westport Arts Center in dialogue with the wider Westport community, and is curated by guest curator Gerry Snyder, Dean of The Pratt Institute School of Art, with lead exhibition sponsorship generously provided by J.P. Morgan.

Those who attend the exhibition, or who identify with the meaning of MORE Than Words, are invited to participate by using #iammore in social media.

Following this curated exhibition, the Westport Arts Center will continue the theme with an exhibition of juried art created by the community at-large in support of the MORE Than Words concept. The group show, entitled MORE Than Words /#iammore will be juried by a panel and will be open to the public at large. A Call for Entries is now available with submissions due October 14, 2016. The #iammore exhibition will be on view beginning November 11, 2016.

Additional MORE Than Words Community and Partner Events

Westport Library

Wednesday, September 21, 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public

In conjunction with our MORE Than Words exhibition, Rabbi Greg Wall of Beit Chaverim Synagogue, Reverend Dr. John Morehouse of the Unitarian Church in Westport and Dr. Janis Abrahms Spring, Westport clinical psychologist and author of How Can I Forgive You?, discuss the topic of forgiveness from both a spiritual and psychological view.

ArtSpeaks: Lecture Panel Conversation

Gerry Snyder: Thursday, September 29, 6-8 p.m.

$20 Non-Member/$15 WAC Member

Gerry Snyder, Dean of the Pratt Institute School of Art and MORE Than Words curator, speaks about the artists and artwork featured in the exhibition. Support provided by The Hofstetter Baron Group and Wells Fargo Foundation in cooperation with Wells Fargo Advisors.

Ridgefield Chorale Performance

Saturday, November 19, 2016, 7 p.m.

Tickets available through Ridgefield Chorale

Being Human, Being Kind; the concert will feature a piece called Tyler’s Suite, produced by the Tyler Clementi Foundation in memory of Tyler Clementi.

About Westport Arts Center

The Westport Arts Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting community through the arts, reaches more than 11,000 people annually through outstanding programs in visual arts, arts education, and the performance arts of Chamber and Jazz music.